affect the destination of that sum.
My Lords however consider that much inconvenience may be occasioned to our commercial arrangements with the whole of the continent if the sum to be received from China under the Treaty of Peace should be remitted to Europe. They are sensible also of the pecuniary advantage of discharging out of that sum all payments which H.M's Govt may have to make for the current public Service in China or for the payment of any balance due to the East India Company for the expenses of the War, or for the satisfaction of the opium claimants.
My Lords therefore think it proper that Sir H. Pottinger should be instructed not to make any further remittance to this country of any sums which he may hereafter receive from the Chinese Govt or of any which, having been previously received, may not have been remitted.
I have therefore to request that your Lordships will move the Earl of Aberdeen to instruct Sir H. Pottinger accordingly, and to authorize him to receive and to apply so much of any funds derived from China as may be required, to any service in China, whether of a naval, military or civil character for which Bills would otherwise be drawn on this Board. And further, to remit the remainder to Calcutta to be applied there to the discharge of the debt due from H.M's Govt to the East India Company, or to such other purposes as My Lords may hereafter direct.
Lord Aberdeen will be pleased further to instruct Sir H. Pottinger to cause an account to be kept of such sums as may be reserved for service in China, and to transmit the same periodically to this Board.
I am &c.
(Signed) S. M. Leake.